5 Skills every Electronics / Electrical Engineering student should learn

Summary

In this video, Ayan shares five essential skills for students or professionals in electronics, electrical, or related engineering fields. These include soldering, breadboarding, using test and measurement equipment, reading data sheets, and programming. Ayan emphasizes that these skills, while foundational, are crucial for success in the industry. He offers practical advice on learning each skill, including tools to use and resources for further learning. The video is aimed at helping viewers bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements, making it an invaluable guide for aspiring engineers.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video focuses on five essential skills for students in electronics, electrical, or equivalent engineering backgrounds, highlighting the gap between academic learning and industry requirements.
• 🛠️ Soldering: A critical skill for building and repairing electronic circuits. Beginners should get a good soldering iron and practice with soldering kits or PCBs to improve their skills.
• 🔌 Breadboarding: Essential for circuit prototyping and testing before finalizing a design. Breadboards are affordable and allow for easy circuit modifications and experimentation.
• 📏 Test and Measurement Equipment: Learning to use tools like multimeters, logic analyzers, CROs, and DSOs is vital for debugging, troubleshooting, and analyzing electronic circuits.
• 📄 Reading Data Sheets: Understanding data sheets is crucial for designing and troubleshooting circuits. They provide all necessary information about components, including electrical and environmental characteristics.
• 💻 Programming: Programming skills, particularly in languages like Python and C, are valuable for automation, simulation, and problem-solving in electronics. They can make repetitive tasks easier and open up many possibilities in technical roles.
• 🔍 Test Tools Substitutes: If CROs are too expensive, consider using logic analyzers as an affordable alternative for debugging and waveform analysis.
• 🧰 Programming as a Toolkit: Even in non-CS fields, programming is a powerful tool for automating tasks, testing, and creating simulations, making it an essential skill for engineers.
• 📝 Component Data Analysis: Using data sheets as a guide helps in understanding the intricacies of new components, ensuring proper integration and use in circuit designs.
• 📈 Industry Relevance: Each skill mentioned is aimed at bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry applications, preparing students for professional careers in electronics and electrical engineering.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to discuss five essential skills that students from electronics, electrical, or equivalent engineering backgrounds should acquire for their careers.

What is the first skill mentioned in the video, and why is it important?

The first skill mentioned is soldering. It is important because it is a fundamental skill for anyone in technical fields, allowing them to assemble and repair electronic circuits. It is also practical for DIY projects and professional applications.

How does the presenter suggest learning soldering?

The presenter suggests getting a good soldering iron and practicing with small soldering kits or a zero-size PCB. He also recommends following online tutorials to improve soldering skills.

What is the second skill and how does it differ from soldering?

The second skill is breadboarding. Unlike soldering, breadboarding provides a temporary way to prototype and test circuits without making permanent connections, making it easier to adjust and experiment with different components.

Why is breadboarding essential for electronics and electrical students?

Breadboarding is essential because it helps students and professionals prototype and test circuits before finalizing them. It allows for easy modifications and ensures the circuit is working as expected before moving to a more permanent solution like PCB.

What are some of the test and measurement equipment mentioned, and why are they important?

The test and measurement equipment mentioned includes multimeters, logic analyzers, CROs (Cathode Ray Oscilloscopes), and DSOs (Digital Storage Oscilloscopes). These are important for debugging, reverse engineering, and ensuring circuits work as intended by analyzing signals and connections.

What advice does the presenter give for using equipment like CROs and logic analyzers?

The presenter advises learning how to use this equipment through YouTube tutorials. He suggests that while CROs are traditional, logic analyzers are a more affordable and modern alternative that can be connected to a computer for circuit debugging.

What is the fourth skill mentioned, and how does it help in designing circuits?

The fourth skill is reading data sheets. Data sheets provide crucial information about electronic components, including electrical characteristics and other specifications. Understanding data sheets helps engineers select and use components correctly in their designs.

Why is programming listed as the fifth skill, and how does it relate to electronics and electrical engineering?

Programming is listed as the fifth skill because it allows for automation, simulation, and problem-solving, even in electronics and electrical engineering. It can be used to automate repetitive tasks, simulate circuit designs, or gather and log data from components.

What programming languages does the presenter recommend for electronics students, and why?

The presenter recommends learning Python due to its general-purpose use, ease of learning, and extensive libraries. For more technical applications like microcontroller programming, he suggests learning C, C++, and possibly some assembly language.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction and Purpose of the Video

The speaker welcomes viewers and introduces the video topic, which is about five essential skills that students in electronics or electrical engineering should possess. He reflects on a similar video he made for computer science (CS) and information technology (IT) students and sets the stage to discuss the skills necessary for students in the electronics or electrical fields. The speaker emphasizes the gap between what is learned in college and what is needed in the industry.

05:02

🧰 Skill 1: Soldering

The first skill highlighted is soldering. The speaker explains how soldering is crucial for anyone in electronics, providing tips on how beginners can get started. He recommends getting a good soldering iron and practicing with small kits or PCBs (printed circuit boards). Soldering is described as a skill that improves with consistent practice. The speaker shares advice on affordable tools and resources, including links to recommended soldering irons and kits.

10:04

🔌 Skill 2: Breadboarding

Breadboarding is the second essential skill, which allows users to create temporary connections and test circuits before committing to a permanent solution like a PCB. The speaker explains the importance of breadboarding as the first stage of circuit design, helping students prototype circuits to check if they work. He suggests breadboards as cost-effective tools and provides tips on where to find them, with links to tutorials and additional resources.

🛠️ Skill 3: Using Test and Measurement Equipment

The third skill involves using test and measurement (T&M) equipment such as multimeters, oscilloscopes (CROs), and logic analyzers. These tools are crucial for circuit debugging and troubleshooting in professional environments. The speaker explains how each tool can be used and highlights the differences between a CRO and a logic analyzer. He recommends the Saleae Logic Analyzer as a cost-effective alternative to a CRO and stresses the importance of learning how to use these tools properly for a career in electronics or electrical engineering.

📄 Skill 4: Reading Data Sheets

Reading data sheets is emphasized as a critical skill for understanding components used in electronics. The speaker explains that data sheets provide detailed information about a component's characteristics, including electrical and environmental properties. He advises students to treat data sheets as reference guides and to practice reading them regularly. Over time, familiarity with data sheets helps with circuit design and component selection.

💻 Skill 5: Programming

The final skill discussed is programming, which may seem unrelated to electronics or electrical engineering at first. However, the speaker argues that programming is a versatile tool that opens up opportunities for automation, simulation, and problem-solving. He recommends learning Python for its ease of use and wide applicability, while also suggesting C, C++, and assembly languages for more technical tasks like microcontroller programming. Programming, the speaker asserts, is essential for tasks like automating repetitive processes and simulating complex systems.

📝 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The video concludes with a recap of the five essential skills: soldering, breadboarding, using test and measurement equipment, reading data sheets, and programming. The speaker encourages viewers to develop these skills for a successful career in electronics or electrical engineering. He expresses gratitude for watching the video and invites viewers to stay tuned for future content.

Keywords

💡Soldering

Soldering is the process of joining two or more electronic components by melting a filler metal (solder) to create a strong electrical connection. In the video, it is described as a fundamental skill for students in electronics and electrical fields. The speaker emphasizes that learning soldering is essential for working with circuits and recommends starting with small soldering kits to practice.

💡Breadboarding

Breadboarding involves creating a temporary circuit using a breadboard to test its functionality before soldering components permanently onto a PCB (printed circuit board). The speaker highlights breadboarding as a critical prototyping step that allows engineers to experiment with different component combinations and verify circuit designs without permanent connections.

💡Test and Measurement Equipment (TNM)

Test and Measurement Equipment refers to devices like multimeters, oscilloscopes (CRO), and logic analyzers used to measure and test electrical signals in circuits. The video stresses the importance of learning how to use TNM equipment for debugging, testing, and troubleshooting electronic circuits. These skills are crucial for ensuring a circuit's functionality in professional settings.

💡Multimeter

A multimeter is a versatile tool used to measure voltage, current, and resistance in electronic circuits. The video mentions the importance of mastering multimeter usage for testing whether different parts of a circuit are correctly connected or functioning. It is considered an essential tool for electronics students and professionals alike.

💡Logic Analyzer

A logic analyzer is an electronic testing device that captures and analyzes signals from digital circuits. It helps in debugging and checking signal integrity, replacing the traditional CRO (oscilloscope) for certain tasks. The speaker recommends using a logic analyzer as a cheaper alternative to oscilloscopes, especially when working with digital circuits in a professional setting.

💡Data Sheets

Data sheets are documents provided by manufacturers that contain technical specifications of electronic components. The speaker emphasizes the importance of reading data sheets to understand the characteristics, functions, and requirements of components used in circuits. Mastering this skill is crucial for anyone designing or working with new components in electrical or electronic projects.

💡Circuit Design

Circuit design refers to the process of designing electrical circuits to perform specific functions. In the video, the speaker discusses how breadboarding and reading data sheets are key skills that help in building and testing circuits. It also involves using TNM equipment to validate the design before creating a permanent version on a PCB.

💡Programming

Programming is described as an important skill for automating tasks, simulating circuit behavior, and controlling microcontrollers in electrical and electronics projects. The speaker suggests learning languages like Python, C, and assembly to expand one's toolkit in circuit testing, debugging, and automation, making it a valuable asset even for non-computer science professionals.

💡PCB (Printed Circuit Board)

A PCB is a board used to physically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways. While the video primarily focuses on skills like breadboarding and soldering, PCBs are mentioned as the final step in circuit design after prototyping and testing with breadboards.

💡Simulation

Simulation in the context of electronics involves using software tools to model and test circuit designs before building them physically. The speaker links programming skills with simulation, indicating that coding knowledge allows engineers to test and refine circuit behavior through simulations, saving time and reducing errors in the physical build process.

Highlights

Soldering is a critical skill for electronics and electrical engineering students.

Breadboarding is essential for prototyping and testing circuits before moving to permanent PCBs.

Using test and measurement equipment like multimeters, logic analyzers, and CROs is crucial for circuit debugging and analysis.

Understanding how to read datasheets is vital for working with new components and understanding their characteristics.

Programming knowledge is essential even in electronics, providing benefits in automation, simulation, and problem-solving.

Python is recommended for general-purpose programming and ease of learning in electronics-related tasks.

C and C++ are key programming languages for working with microcontrollers and low-level electronics programming.

Soldering kits, such as those available on websites like Tindie, are great for practicing soldering skills.

Logic analyzers are more affordable alternatives to traditional CROs for circuit testing and debugging.

Breadboards offer flexibility in circuit testing, allowing easy adjustments and changes in the circuit layout.

Test equipment like signal generators and oscilloscopes are important tools for accurate circuit analysis and testing.

Learning to use test and measurement equipment properly helps in reverse engineering and troubleshooting circuits.

Datasheets provide detailed information about component properties, making them essential resources for design and implementation.

Automation through programming can greatly improve efficiency in repetitive tasks in electronics work.

Programming is not exclusive to computer science; it’s a valuable skill for any technical career, including electronics.

Transcripts

hey how's it going everybody welcome

back to another video geek series are

doing absolutely fantastic my name is

ayan and

a few years back i made a video on five

skills

you should have if you are a cs or iit

students and

uh today i'm going to make a similar

video where i'll be talking about five

skills you should know if you are a

student from electronics or electrical

or any equivalent engineering background

so without further ado let's get started

all right we are back and as i mentioned

time perimenic video 1

mentioning 5 skills so you should have

if you are from a cs or it background

if you are a student or if you are even

a professional in your early career

stages

uh this video i'm going to talk about

the same uh

topic the the set of skills which you

require if you are from electronics or

electrical or whatever engineering

background

or as you all know that what we learn in

college and what we actually have to do

in industry is a very very different and

uh skill system and shortlist so in my

opinion

everyone into electronics and electrical

and similar things should

these are not some very rocket science

thing which you will need a lot of time

to understand so

uh let's start with the first one and

data is soldering

so soldering is one of the very very

important skill and in my opinion

everyone in respect of

their coming from technical background

or not should no such an amazing

and such a useful skill so

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whatever and i know it's a not very very

easy thing to learn

and it takes some time so how can one

who

have no idea about soldering can learn

soldering first of all get yourself a

good soldering iron

i made a video on a good soldering iron

which you can get in budget check out

the link in the description so once you

have the soldering iron there are a lot

of different tutorials on internet which

you can follow

uh you can buy some small soldering kits

these are the small pcbs

which supplies you with the uh a bear

board and some components so you can

solder on them and you can make

something out of it so you can find some

of these kits on ten day which is

my go to site for getting these kinds of

stuff i'll leave the link in the

description so you can buy it

uh escala you can also just buy the zero

size pcb which has all these

small holes and you can start soldering

resistors capacitors and

make something out of it so that is the

one way to learn soldering and as you do

more and more

on daily basis your skills absolutely

grows with you so yeah that is the first

skill on my list so do learn soldering

now on to the next one

that is breadboarding just like

soldering breadboarding is

another skill which i think everyone

from electronics and electrical

background should know so

uh breadboard character basically

the circuit is working or not and it's a

temporary solution so it gives you

temporary connections

and just go up change constructive

easily and unlike pcb

it stays breadboard you can change the

components you can

do all kinds of permutation combination

to check if your circuit is working or

not

so breadboarding is the first stage of

any circuit design just ma'am circuit

could prototype

a breadboard to see if it's actually

working or not and uh

breadboards are not very costly like uh

70 80 rupees

you can get it from amazon i'll leave

some link in the description as usual

and uh uh yeah learn about breadboarding

there are tons of

different tutorials out there on

instructables even on youtube

that how a breadboard is connected how

you can use started using a breadboard

so yeah that is another skill in my

opinion which you should know if you're

coming from

electronics or electrical background

moving on to the third skill which in my

opinion is really important if you

are from ec or doubly background is

using

test and measurement equipments and what

i mean by using tnm equipment is

using multimeter logic analyzers

cro dsos and all kind of stuff so

how much urethra inside equipment so use

carnegie there are tons of different

possibilities where you can use a

multimeter logic analyzer

or cro so for example a continuous test

will tell you using a multimeter

point say they are connected together or

not similarly

circuit work you need to just debug it

you can use a cro to see if the waveform

is coming or not if it's a right

waveform

uh the frequency amplitude and similar

kind of things

uh similarly using a signal generator uh

a probe uh in in cro all kind of things

that comes under using tnm equipments

and

uh yes technically you can follow

youtube tutorials there are tons of

different videos out there which will

teach you how to

use a cro how to use a multimeter and

everyone should have a multimeter but

cro is not that important these days

because cro has

uh uh can be replaced by something

called logic analyzer so article

uh logic analyzer you can purchase for

quite cheap compared to the traditional

cro

i know people who are into traditional

electronics they will

prefer cro any day but if you don't have

a budget because cro are really

expensive

uh then you can either buy a second hand

or go for something called logic

analyzer and the logic analyzer which i

recommend is satellite logic analyzer

so what it does it connects to your

computer view a usb

and it has some probes which you can

attach to electronic circuit and you can

debug it on your computer

you can see if the wave is coming the

frequency the amplitude and things like

that

so uh that is a really important skill

to have

it teach you circuit debugging a tissue

circuit reverse engineering

and troubleshooting and all kind of

things so if you go in an industry and

work for a professional setup where they

design circuits and

the debugger these equipments place an

really really important role and

one should know how to use them how to

use them correctly and

what are the shortcomings of their

equipment so make sure to learn it

before entering the professional life if

you are interested to make your career

in electronics or electrical

that is something you need to learn

moving to the next skill the number

fourth on my list is reading data sheets

and that is

hands down the most important skill

which i have personally acquired over

the period of time

so basically what happens is when you

are designing a new circuit yeah

you come across the different components

which are new for you

and the

obviously manufacturer provides you with

the component you can download it from

the internet from their sites and

data ships tells you everything there is

to know about the component the

electrical characteristics the frequency

characteristics the

uh environmental characteristics of

whether you need some decoupling

capacitors with it whether you need some

support circuitry with it

everything will be there on data sheet

if you are working

in uh let's say is

everything will be on the data sheet so

make sure

uh you read a lot of data sheets and

there is a no

way to uh learn how to data you just

have to pick the data sheet and use it

as an

encyclopedia uh go to the page number

which you are interested in

about the part to know and then read a

lot of data sheets then only you'll uh

over the period of time you will

understand how to actually read a data

sheet so that's

a very very important skill in my

opinion if you want to make a career in

electronics or electrical background

make sure you know how to read a data

sheet of any component

all right number five and the last one

on my list which can be a bit

controversial and

and polarizing is uh programming so

i know you people must be wondering that

if i want to make a career in

electronics an electrical background

where i will be designing pcbs where i

will be

reading data sheets where i will be

debugging some equipment using

logic analyzers and whatnot why the hell

would i need programming for it so here

we also programming is not just

something that

geeks and nerds of computer science

background do programming is

like a tool in your arsenal in your

toolkit which will enable you to do so

many different things whether it's

automation whether it's testing whether

it's just uh

simulating something so programming

cigna is like

uh giving you the uh opportunity to

which opens the door of lot of for

different possibilities where you can

uh it's like a playground where you can

do all kind of things for example if uh

if you if you are doing a manual task

again and again you can automate it with

programming and

uh do it automatically the computer will

do it for you

for example if you want to take a

reading of let's say

100 different capacitors you can make a

small jig and using our microcontroller

you can lock the data in the computer

which automatically will

uh get new component and i'm just

thinking about what are the

possibilities but the possibilities are

really endless

if you know programming also it's a

great problem-solving tool so

if you want to simulate a problem if you

want to do anything then programming is

a really really essential skill which

you should know

and if you really want to go deep inside

any technical career path you will find

some sort of

programming being used here and there

whether to solve a problem or to

automate something so

uh the next question could be what

programming language should i learn so

that

totally depends on you so uh what i

recommend is

of course learn python because it's a

general purpose programming language

it's very easy to learn

it has a lot of different libraries and

good communities so you can do a lot of

different things from it

uh but again if you want to uh go into

more technical details like if you want

to program microcontrollers then you

definitely have to learn c

and c plus plus n uh maybe some sort of

uh

assembly language uh background will

also be required so yeah depending on

how you choose a career path and

end up working uh you will have to learn

different kind of programming languages

and may or may not

learn you can just get away with it but

uh for now just have a programming

knowledge

a small language which can be in your

arsenal and uh

which you can use to make things easy

for you so that was a list of my five

essential skills which everyone should

know in my opinion if you're from

electronics and electrical background so

that's all for today's video thank you

very much for watching and

i'm gonna see you in the next one

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do

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